Thread rolling machine



March 22, 1949. NEUMANN 2,464,883

THREAD ROLLING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

, Y L 5g Jmm M 26 41 0 M I Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UN l TED;- S T AIJES PATENT?" O F F I CE rnnnennonmne meonmn ArthurE, Neumann, .Wilmette, 111., assignon to; lWallkee Thread Rolling company Milwailaw a we nersh Application June 1, v 1945, Serial No. r 591,552.:

(o1. so -sy 5 Claims.

This invention relates-to-machines .for operat-- ing on blanks and analogous articles, and has to; do-wvith means for transferring the blanks or the 1 like to the mechanismwhich operates upon-them. My. invention is particularly-applicab1e to thread rolling machinesand will be described, in

the first instance, as applied to-such'amachine,

though it is to be understood that my invention in its broader aspects, is applicable to various othermachines, as willbe explained more fully later. In thread rollingmachines as presently constructed the blanks are delivered by -a .chute to a reciprocating transfer finger having an as sociated register finger, by means of which the.- blankis held in. position, on the end of the transfer'finger, and a starterfinger removes the, blank from the transfer finger and deliversit to the die. opening in position to be. gripped between the dies at the start'ofthe operating-stroke thereof. Thread rolling-machines of this type areextensively used, an.d,in generalyare capable of pro-- ducing satisfactory work where precision is not required. In such machineahowever, difliculty frequently is encounteredin accurately positioning the blank in the die opening, with the result that inaccuracies in rolling of-the thread on the blanks occur, such that precision in rolling of the thread is not possible.

While suchv inaccuracies may be slight in some cases and =such as not'to I render the threaded piece totally unfit for use,

and more serious in other-cases, they preclude precision rolling of the .thread, and :machines team not suitable forprecision work;

My invention is directed to a machinefor ex I ample, a thread rolling machine--having transferfeed mechanism whereby accurate position-j ing of blanks or analogous articles with respect to-the dies or other operating'mechanism is assured, wherebyrprecision rolling of threads onthe 1, r

utilizing the transfer feed mechanism referred blanks is rendered possible. Morespecifically l provide, in athread rolling-,mach-ine, a transfer finger having at its inner end 'means-Whereby -the. blanks delivered singly fromthe-feedchute are,

held magnetically in position on-the inner end contacts the blank; thealatterds erected :in two planes substantially perpendicular to each other-- and is thereby,- accuratel-y disposed fon-positioning in the die opening; In theqmovement of, the

s arter fing a r sv e nne a ndinf-the ra s ,7 ee-finger, hes arteefineerbeccmgstemeerar lre 5; nes .o zF sii. :1,

2. magnetized so x that-the blank is held accurately positioned =thereongand is removed mm the a transfer :fingersbya rolling action, and then accurately disposed by. the starter fingermin the tdie opening in position tobegripped betweenth e dies at the start of the working stroke-of the movable or-reciprocating die As a further assurance of accuracy ",when rolling threads ,on headed -blanks,theinner end offthe transfer qfingeris so iormed as to provide arecess-which 1 receives the head of a blank, and a projection or .i shoulder contiguous lto therecess disposed to con Q tactthe headof-thelowermost-blankin the chute 4 asl the ,transfer finger moves across v ithe lower,

.;.end thereof, thereby-guarding against displace-f 4 ment of-theblankheld-on the-inner.- end ofthe transfer finger by ipressure exertedon the head 3 of that blank by the headof: the lowermost blank in thelchute, as the ,finger moves pastthe latter...

Also, withe -view to increased inaccuraoy the elements of the body orLframe of-themachine defining the guideways in ,which' the transientl finger: and the starter finger operate are formed 1: of magnetic mat erial, suoh as iron or ordinary;

" steel, sothat the smalhparticles of metal, or chips;

produced in .the. operation. of the machine are moved to the outer side edges --of@ the respective fingers, due -;to greater-density of the magnetic flux-at- =those; -areas .-leaving .the central areas of the ends of the fingers substantially, free of metal, a

particles which might interfere with. accurate-Q positioning ther eonof thelolanks.vv Furtherv 0biects and advantages-otmy. invention will appear from-the detail. description.

In the drawingst Figured isq-a fragrnentarytisometric side view, of a thread rolling -ina chine embodying my in-v vention;

Figure- Zis atplan view of the-ftransfer fingerw and starter finger -and;ass ociated partswwith: the

starter fing er ,in -position -=disposingLa .blank be-l tween the dies at;the; throatlof theidie ,openlng, i. thist-view, being ,--sei ni -diagrammatic and certain parts being omitted for, clearness of illustration;

Figures is a serni-diagrammatic planview, on an enla rgedscale, of the blank feed chute land the transfer finger,and associated :parts, with the ng in it new an eild e name netically heldimposition on.the inner, end of the Figure Avis a view, similar to; Figure-.3 but with the transfer ifinger moved inward into position, closingthe lower end pf the blank; feed chute;

Figure 54s a secti on a Viewtakenwsubstantially and Figure 6 is a fragmentary semi-diagrammatic plan view showing the positions of the parts when the starter finger contacts the blank on the inner end of the transfer finger, the head of the blank being omitted and the shank thereof being shown in section.

The transfer and feed mechanism of my invention is applied to a thread rolling machine which, except as to such mechanism, is of known construction and operation. Accordingly, I have illustrated only such portions of the machine as are necessary to an understanding of my invention. The machine comprises a body or frame I0, which may be considered as including the die holders, gate and gate cap, and other parts usual to such machines, a stationary die I I and a cooperating reciprocating die I2 suitably. spaced from die II and defining therewith a die opening for reception of the blanks to be threaded, the dies II and I2 being provided at their opposed faces with suitably disposed grooves and ridges for rolling the thread, as is well'known. The frame I'O defines a transfer finger guideway I3 and a starter finger guideway I4 disposed substantially perpendicular to guideway I 3 and intersecting the inner end thereof, guideway I l substantially constitutin a continuation of the opening between the dies I I and I2. The parts of the frame structure defining the side walls of the guideways I3 and I4 are of magnetic material, such as iron or steel used in the construction of the frame. A transfer finger I5 is slidably mounted on guideway I3, this finger being carried by a reciprocating transfer slide I6 mounted in frame structure I and recinrocated in a known manner. A blank feed or delivery chute I7 is mounted on the frame structure I!) and opens at its lower end into guideway I3, this chute being inclined downward toward this guideway. A chute cover I8, suitably supported above the c ute I'I, holds the blanks properly positioned within the chute. I have shown a plurality of headed blanks I9 within chute I l, cover I8 contacting the upper faces of the heads of these blanks for the purpose stated, so that head 20 of each blank is confined between cover I8 and the side walls of the chute, which this head overlaps as shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 4. The blanks are supplied to the upper end of chute I! in a known manner, and are delivered singly therefrom to the guideway I3 for contact by the inner end of the transfer finger, by which they are moved inward into position to be contacted by a starter finger 2| operating in guideway I4, defined in part by the movable die I2, starter finger 2| serving to remove the blank from the transfer finger I and position it in the inner end portion or throat of the die opening, where it is disposed to be gripped between the dies at the start of the working stroke of the movable die I2. The machine so far described is of known construction and operation and need not be described in greater detail, except with respect to the feeder transfer mechanism of my invention.

The transfer finger I5 comprises a body por tion 22 formed of any suitable metal, which may be magnetic or not, as desired, and an inner end member 23 in the form of a permanent magnet, preferably of high flux density, such as an Alnico magnet of substantially U-shape, havingat its outer end a reduced tongue 24 which is secured, conveniently by welding or brazing, in a corresponding slot in the inner end'of body 22, with the shoulders at the outer end of magnet 23 seating accurately against the inner end of body 22. The magnet I5 is oblong in plan, and has its arms 25 spaced apart, with the space therebetween filled with a non-magnetic material 26, for example lead. The magnet 23 thus presents two spaced apart pole ends of rectangular shape at the inner end of the transfer finger I5. The upper inner end portion of magnet 23 is cut away or reduced in height to provide a recess 21 for reception of the head 20 of a blank I9, the uncutaway upper portion of magnet 23 constituting with the upper portion of body or member 22 of transfer finger I5 a shoulder for contact with the head of the lowermost blank in chute I'I.

When the transfer finger I 5 is in its outer position shown in Figure 3, the lower or delivery end of chute I1 is uncovered and a blank I9 is discharged from this chute, by gravity, into guideway I3. Downward movement of the blank in guideway I3 is limited by a guide plate 28 adjustably mounted on the frame structure ID by shouldered adjusting screws 29 threading into the frame structure and passing through slots 30 in spaced ears 3I integral with plate 28. This plate is so adjusted as to position the shank of blank I9 in guideway I3 in centered relation thereto. The blank thus delivered from the chute is held magnetically in position upon the spaced poles of magnet 23. The transfer finger I5, with the blank magnetically held in position upon its inner end, is then moved inward, and the upper portion of magnet 23 contacts the bottom edge of head 29 of the lowermost blank I9 in chute H, the magnet 23 also closing the lower end of the chute, so as to preclude delivery of a second blank from the chute. Contact of the upper portion of magnet 23 with the head of the lowermost blank in the chute occurs immediately after the head of the blank on the transfer finger has been moved a short distance inward relative to the head of the lowermost blank in the chute, thereby preventing downward movement of the latter blank sufficiently to disturb the position of the blank on the transfer finger, such as might otherwise occur due to the pressure exerted by the superposed blanks in the chute I1. That is conducive to accuracy, since the blank delivered to the transfer finger from chute I! is positioned centrally of the end of that finger, as noted. The transfer finger I5 continues its inward travel until the blank I9 carried thereby is disposed to be contacted by the starter finger 2|, at which time this finger moves across the inner end of finger I3 into contact with the shank of blank I9. As previously noted, the starter finger 2| is formed of magnetic metal and is disposed perpendicular, or substantially so, to the inner end of transfer finger I5. When the starter finger 2| first contacts the shank of blank IS, the blank is dismagnet 23. The blank I9 is then erected in two planes perpendicular to each other, and is, therefore, accurately positioned for disposal in the die openin in proper position to assure precision rolling of the threads in the blank. In the con tinued movement of starter finger 2I toward the dies, the blank I9 is rolled off of the end of transfer'finger I5, due to the fact that this blank is then in line contact at a with the end. of transfer finger I5, an d is'also in line contact at b with" As will be noted more the starter finger 2I. clearly from Figure 6, the inner corner of die II is rou'nded'at 33, providing a flaring throat lead-i ing to the'die opening, the inner or' operating face" 34l0f2die= -1I. I being; offset inwardly; relative to, finger.

2 It In :the continued travel of finger ,2 lwacros theinn'er: end of.:transter.. finger I 5,:zthe blank LI 9 contactsthesroundedzcorner 330i. die I l, and

nc-ied-lnotsbe r,epeated: here, :the; gauge,- plate. 28:- be-- ing,.iOf=.CO1l'I'se, appropriatelyadjusted to suit the shifted: itherebyoacrosspthea end of finger :2 I intov 5 blanks-being:githreaded:

The :use ;of.-:a iperma-nent; magnet at thevinner, end-10f; the transfer finger is :;particularly suited f5 contact withzthe inner face of die; I 2,;being there: bytagainzerectedzin two planes substantially per-- pendicular to each other; whereby accuracy in positioning ;of the blankin the: die opening is as sured. When the blank 195118.52b-eenjthus--ac: curatelyi'positioned in the die opening, ;the move able sdie z-I2i starts its operating stroke and :the,

blankfds tightlygrippecl:between the two dies inaccurateposition therebetweenu During travel -of:; the-starterfingerZtacross the transfer finger I5, intorpositionztordispose the blank I9 accurately ingrthevdie opening :in the manner. stated,.it:passes: f

somewhat beyond finger I5, and the flux densityv atathe lend of finger 2|; thereby materially'reduc'edz'so-that;whenthe lank is initially ripped; betweentherdies; the magnetism of starter finger;

2 Iz oifers:.-no :obiectionable resistance =-to detach-.7

mentfof the blank therefrom, which is conducive toaccuratepositioning of the blank between the diesv and :precision rolling .of the threadon the blanks; Sincethe walls of the guideways for the P transferfinger-and the starter finger-are-of magneti'cvmater-ial, and the'end faces of the respectiverfingers are. rectangular with sharp side edges oricorn'ersysmall.particles orchips of metal 00-" curring in the operationof the machine will tend tOiCOllBCt at the'side edges of the fingers, in-the areas .ofsgreatest fluxv density, maintaining the central areas of the ends of'the fingers substantlallyfree from-chips, which is desirable :and con-.

duciyetoxiaccuracy; In the'operatin stroke of;

the-'die lli athreadis rolled on the blank, and'it iszl-tlien discharged @from between the: dies in 'a known-manner. By positioning the blankac curately'witli respect tothe dies in. the manner above described, I render possible precision rolling of the threadvwhich, so far as I am aware, has not heretofore been possible. It. will be seen that by holding the blank in position on the end of the transfer finger magnetically I obviate the necessity for using a register fingerysuch as commonly used in present thread rolling machines, while also rendering possible much greater accuracy in the rolling operation than is possible inzpresent rnachines.

Referringt further .to Figure" 6; it will :be-seen that: the fingers..l5 .and.2 I. operate in intersecting planes passing through a common axis, i. e., the axis 0 of blank I9. That assures that the blank is erected in two planes, in the corner provided by the contiguous ends of the fingers, as the starter finger 2i crosses the inner end of the transfer finger I5. Preferably, the fingers l5 and 2| are disposed substantially at right angles to each other, but they may be disposed at any other suitable relative angle about the common axis c, within the concept of my invention. Also, within the broader aspects of my invention, the blank, during transfer and delivery thereof to the dies or other operating means, may be disposed in any suitable position other than vertical, so long as the transfer finger I5 and the starter finger ZI' are so related as to provide a corner in which the blank is erected and thereby accurately positioned with respect to the mechanism for operating upon the blank, as for the reasons previously described.

I have described my invention as embodied in a machine used for rolling threads on headed blanks. When rolling threads on unheaded to. know threadarolling ;.machines and is advantaecousu-in orequiring no changes in :the frames;

istructureszof such armachineh It; is to be understoodnhowever, that: within the broader aspects-i:

ciimy inventionwthe transfer finger may be provideduwithnany;suitableaknoyvn type of magnet suchaspen electromaenehand means for ener-- ,gizing the-latter, and otherchanges may be made in;;-;d etalils f -:;construction and arrangement of threadqrollingmachines embodying my inven-a larlyssuitedin certainof; its more specific aspects:

In';=:i ts bzioadersaspects; however, my inventionis 1-- applicable :to other 'machines ,in'which a blankior analogous article to be operated upon is-to bet The :essential: feature of 'my;

invention is that-the blankor analogous article is erected ina corner provided by the transfer finger and'zthemstarter-finger; or equivalent members,

withz-respecttoa common axis about which such;

members-rare disposed, :the: fingersbeing provided withimeansefiective-for-holding the blank on the transfer; fingenerectingthe blank in two planes; andzthemdelivering it to the operating means in ,propcllrrelation thereton Within the broader asthan fromrachutegand any suitable means-suciii-mechanism;

It willrbelunderstood, as above indicated, that changes: "may a be :resorted to without departing fromimy:inventionran'd'I intend, therefore, to include-:in:thissapplic'atidn,- in which the preferred;-

such ivariationsias.fallr'within1 the scope of the-:1

appendedclaims;

I claim:

1. In means for transferring blanks from the blank supply point of a machine for operating upon blanks between two relatively reciprocating dies, a reciprocable transfer finger operable across the blank supply point for contact with blanks of magnetic material delivered thereto, said finger being magnetized at its inner end effective for magnetically holding a blank in position thereon, and a starter finger of magnetic material movable across the inner end of said transfer finger when the latter is in its inner position then defining therewith a corner in which the blank is erected magnetically in two planes by magnetic flux passing between the contiguous ends of said fingers through the blank, said starter finger in its continued movement across said transfer finger 70 moving the blank therefrom and delivering it to the die throat while said starter finger remains magnetized by said transfer finger sufliciently to hold the blank magnetically on said starter finger until it is delivered thereby to the dies.

2. In means for transferring blanks from the blank supply point of a machine for operating upon blanks between two relatively reciprocating dies, a reciprocable transfer finger operable across the blank supply point for contact with blanks of magnetic material delivered thereto, said finger being magnetized at its inner end efiective for magnetically holding a blank in position thereon, and a starter finger of magnetic material movable across the inner end of said transfer finger in close proximity thereto into position to deliver a blank to the dies while said transfer finger is in its inner position, said starter finger when it reaches said transfer finger defining therewith a corner in which the blank is erected magnetically in two planes by magnetic flux passing between the contiguous ends of said fingers through the blank, said starter finger in its continued movement across said transfer finger moving the blank therefrom and delivering it to the die throat while said starter finger remains magnetized by said transfer finger sufficiently to hold the blank magnetically on said starter finger until it is delivered thereby to the dies.

3. In means for transferring blanks from the blank supply point of a machine for operating upon blanks between two relatively reciprocating dies, a reciprocable transfer finger operable across the blank supply point for contact with blanks of magnetic material delivered thereto, a permanent magnet mounted on the inner end of said transfer finger effective for magnetically holding a blank in position thereon, and a starter finger of magnetic material movable across the inner end of said magnet when said transfer finger is in its inner position then defining with said magnet a corner in which the blank is erected magnetically in two planes by magnetic fiux between said magnet and the contiguous end of said starter finger through the blank, said starter finger in its continued movement across said magnet moving the blank therefrom and delivering it to the die throat while said starter finger remains magnetized by said magnet sufiiciently to hold the blank magnetically on said starter finger until it is delivered thereby to the dies.

4. In means for transferring blanks from the blank supply point of a machine for operating upon blanks between two relatively reciprocating dies, a reciprocable transfer finger operable across the blank supply point for contact with blanks of magnetic material delivered thereto, a substantially U-shaped magnet mounted on the inner end of said transfer finger there providing two vertically spaced magnetic poles efiective for magnetically holding a blank in position thereon, and a starter finger of magnetic material movable across the inner end of said magnet when said transfer finger is in its inner position then defining with said magnet a corner in which the blank is erected magnetically in two planes by magnetic flux between said magnet and the contiguous end of said starter finger through the blank, said starter finger in its continued movement across said magnet moving the blank therefrom and delivering it to the die throat while said starter finger remains magnetized by said magnet sufiiciently to hold the blank magnetically on said starter finger until it is delivered thereby to the dies.

5. In means for transferring blanks from the blank supply point of a machine for operating upon blanks between two relatively reciprocating dies, a reciprocable transfer finger operable across the blank supply point for contact with blanks of magnetic material delivered thereto, a permanent magnet of substantially U-shape mounted on the inner end of said transfer finger effective for magnetically holding a blank in position thereon, and a starter finger of magnetic material movable across the inner end of said magnet when said transfer finger is in its inner position then defining with said magnet a corner in which the blank is erected magnetically in two planes by magnetic flux between said magnet and the contiguous end of said starter finger through the blank, said starter finger in its continued movement across said magnet moving the blank therefrom and delivering it to the die throat while said starter finger remains magnetized by said magnet sufliciently to hold the blank magnetically on said starter finger until it is delivered thereby to the dies.

ARTHUR E. NEUMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,584,264 Wilcox May 11, 1926 1,762,192 Pierce June 10, 1930 2,109,918 Friedman Mar. 1, 1938 

